The Great R'Idaho Trail #2

Northern Loop - Route Description

 

Stage 5: Gold Creek Lodge to Wallace


 

Distance in Miles

Miles of Trail

Minimum Elevation in Ft

Maximum Elevation in Ft

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Legend

  • Navy Blue: Designated motorcycle trails or notably tougher ATV trails
  • Green: Designated ATV trails or just too easy motorcycle trails
  • Red: Advanced Difficulty Trails
  • Magenta: Roads. Dirt Road most often, but occasionally paved.
  • Light Blue:  Easier Bypass Detours or optional side-trips. Only the first section of a detour is color coded when the route splits.
  •  Black: Special Test Detours. Only the first section of a detour is color coded when the route splits.

No rest for the weary. This stage is another full day of rugged trails. It loops back to Wallace using all new trails compared to Stage4.  Right out of the gate, you have a special test option to take the road to to the steep climb up Kickbush Gulch trail. Either way you go, the main road leads us to the rather advanced Larch-Powder Mt trail with the power sapping hill climb to a ridge trail and 1600ft elevation back down

A few miles of NF3099 road takes us to Independence Creek National Recreation Trail system with several stream crossings up a scenic river valley both the bonus trail sideloop over Faset Peak. After Independence Creek, we climb up on Goose Creek trail  to knock out more awesome single track.  After some restful roads and ATV trails, we come to the short, but star quality, Barney Creek trail that ends with a large river crossing.

From here we have a large bonus trail special test loop option going up and back over Spake Mt. Then we get to rest on scenic and fast river roads for several miles to make our way south to the Coeur d’Alene River road. Then we climb up the tough highlight Graham Creek and Graham Ridge trail to follow the easier White Peak Ridge trail. From here it is just some jeep roads, short moderate single track and downhill ATV trails into Wallace.  We can gas up in Osborn if we are worried about gas, or just ride the last 5 miles of pavement into Wallace for a well deserved celebration dinner. You will have survived  5+ very tough days of riding and have now seen why Northern Idaho is such a treasure of beauty and tight woods trail riding.